Tokyo stocks mixed as AI growth concerns ease, rising crude weighs

Tokyo stocks closed mixed on Wednesday, with artificial intelligence shares rising as concerns about their growth prospects eased, while other parts of the market experienced selling due to a surge in crude oil futures. The Nikkei Stock Average, which tracks the performance of 225 major Japanese companies, finished up 685.82 points, or 1.08 percent, from the previous session, reaching 63,954.19. Meanwhile, the broader Topix index, which includes around 1,000 stocks, ended 5.66 points, or 0.14 percent, lower at 3,991.71.

The Prime Market, comprising top-tier companies, saw glass and ceramics product manufacturers and nonferrous metal producers among the main gainers. On the other hand, food and insurance-related shares faced notable declines. The U.S. dollar remained relatively strong in Tokyo, trading mostly in the upper 157 yen range in the wake of upcoming policy decisions by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan.

The euro was quoted at $1.1122-1123 and 175.49-53 yen against the U.S. dollar, which was trading at 157.78-80 yen and 157.90-158.00 yen in Tokyo and New York, respectively. The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield rose by 0.040 percentage point from Tuesday's close to 2.825 percent, as investors sold the safe-haven debt amid the rise in stocks.

Artificial intelligence and semiconductor-related shares followed the gains in their U.S. counterparts, buoyed by the positive information presented in Anthropic's initial public offering prospectus. However, many other sectors ended the day lower as the increase in West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures above $100 per barrel and subsequent rise in Japanese government bond yields put downward pressure on the market.

Strategist Maki Sawada of Nomura Securities Co. pointed out that some of the recent gainers, such as defensive and domestic demand issues, faced selling pressure as investors adjusted their expectations for further growth in Japanese stocks following the recent earnings season.